What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
Infants and newborns are able to respond to sounds before they learn how to speak. If a child has hearing loss they may:
- Not be startled by loud noises.
- By the age of three months, babies are unable to recognise their parents’ voice.
- By the age of six months, they won’t turn their head towards a sound.
- By the age of twelve months, they won’t be imitating simple sounds or words.
Hearing loss in toddlers and older kids is characterised by:
- Delayed language skills
- Abnormal speech
- The insistence of listening to music or television at high volumes
- Learning difficulties
- Low attention span
- When someone calls their name, they do not respond
- Hearing with background noise can be difficult
What is the cause of conductive hearing loss?
A problem in the outer ear or middle ear can block the passage into the inner ear. The most common cause of hearing loss is conductive ear infections, which cause fluid to accumulate in the ear. These can be treated by medication. For a Bristol Audiologist, contact https://www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/bristol/
Other causes include
- Allergies or Colds can cause fluid buildup in the ears
- Small objects stuck in your ear
- The ear canal is clogged with excessive earwax
- Congenital deformities affecting the outer or middle ears
What causes sensorineural loss of hearing?
The inner ear is affected by sensorineural hearing loss. Hair cells in the inner ears convert middle-ear signals into electrical signals that are then sent to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound or speech. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the inner ear hair cells are damaged.
Some children are born with sensorineural hearing loss, while others develop it later. This is a form of acquired hearing loss.
